Coordinated Satellite and Terrestrial Channel Utilization

ABSTRACT

Apparatuses, methods, and systems for coordinated satellite and terrestrial channel utilization, are disclosed. One wireless system includes a plurality of base stations, a plurality of hubs, and a controller. For an embodiment, the controller is operative to determine discrete communication delays for each base station based upon a maximum propagation delay between each base station and the one or more of the plurality of hubs, generate a channel sharing map that includes a timing of communication between each base station and the one or more of the plurality of hubs, communicate the channel sharing map to the plurality of base stations. Further, each of the plurality of base stations operates to time wireless communication with the plurality of hubs based on the channel sharing map, the discrete communication delays of the base station, and a communication delay of a preceding base station according to the channel sharing map.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application in a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 17/200,847, filed Mar. 14, 2021, which is herein incorporatedby reference.

FIELD OF THE DESCRIBED EMBODIMENTS

The described embodiments relate generally to wireless communications.More particularly, the described embodiments relate to systems, methodsand apparatuses for coordinated satellite and terrestrial channelutilization.

BACKGROUND

The Internet of Things (IoT) includes large numbers of devices beingconnected to the internet. The devices can be located in remote placesall over the world.

It is desirable to have methods, apparatuses, and systems forcoordinated satellite and terrestrial channel utilization.

SUMMARY

An embodiment includes a controller of a wireless communication system.For an embodiment, the controller is operative to (or configured to)determine one or more discrete communication delays for each basestation of a plurality of base stations based upon a maximum propagationdelay between each base station and one or more of a plurality of hubs,generate a channel sharing map that includes a timing of communicationbetween each base station and the one or more of the plurality of hubs,communicate the channel sharing map to the plurality of base stations.Further, each of the plurality of base stations operates to timewireless communication with the plurality of hubs based on the channelsharing map, the one or more discrete communication delays of the basestation, and a communication delay of a preceding base station accordingto the channel sharing map.

Another embodiment includes a method. The method includes determining,by a controller, one or more discrete communication delays for each basestation based upon a maximum propagation delay between each base stationand the one or more of the plurality of hubs, generating, by thecontroller, a channel sharing map that includes a timing ofcommunication between each base station and the one or more of theplurality of hubs, communicating, by the controller, the channel sharingmap to the plurality of base stations, and timing, by each of theplurality of base stations, wireless communication with the plurality ofhubs based on the channel sharing map, and the one or more discretecommunication delays of the base station.

Other aspects and advantages of the described embodiments will becomeapparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example theprinciples of the described embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows wireless communication system that includes a satellitebase station wirelessly communicating with a plurality of hubs through asatellite, wherein terrestrial base stations are located within acoverage area of the satellite base station, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows a physical channel between a hub modem of a hub and a basestation, and a virtual channel between an application of the hub and asystem platform, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows determination of a propagation delay between a base stationand a hub, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows a predictive model for estimating the propagation delay,according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows various overlapping coverage areas of satellite basestations and terrestrial (cellular) base stations, according to anembodiment.

FIG. 6 shows some examples of a timing of base station transmissionbased on a channel sharing map, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 7 shows multiple base stations wirelessly communicating withmultiple hubs, and further shows the propagation times for each of thewireless links between the base stations and the hubs, and further showsselected communication delays, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 8 shows overlapping coverage areas of multiple base stations andcorresponding unique channel sharing maps, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 9 shows coverage area of multiple base stations that change overtime, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart that includes steps of coordinated satellite andterrestrial channel utilization, according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments described include methods, apparatuses, and systems forcoordinated satellite and terrestrial channel utilization. Channelutilization is controlled by determining channel sharing maps based onoverlapping coverage areas of multiple base stations. The determinedchannel sharing maps are provided to the multiple base stations. Each ofthe multiple base stations control timing of wireless communication withhubs within the coverage areas of the multiple base stations based onone or more discrete communication delays of the base station, and acommunication delay of a preceding base station according to the channelsharing map.

FIG. 1 shows wireless communication system that includes a satellitebase station 120 wirelessly communicating with a plurality of hubs171-176 through a wireless link 180 and through a satellite 110, whereinterrestrial base stations 111-114 are located within a coverage area 140of the satellite base station 120, according to an embodiment. For anembodiment, a controller 130 operative to determining one or morediscrete communication delays for each base station 111-114, 120 basedupon a maximum propagation delay between each base station 111-114, 120and the one or more of the plurality of hubs 171-176.

For an embodiment, the maximum propagation delay for a base station isdetermined by measuring roundtrip delay times between the base stationand all hubs wirelessly connected to the base station. For anembodiment, the maximum propagation delay for a base station isestimated based on a location of satellite that completes a wirelesslink between the base station and hubs, a location of base station andbase station (satellite) coverage area.

In implementation, the maximum propagation delay captures 95% of thelikely use cases of the described embodiments. For at least someembodiments, the maximum propagation delay is used as a mechanism toensure that all hubs coordinate with each other when transmitting dataso that collisions do not happen at the (receiving) base station. With amaximum propagation delay, each hub ensures that its actual delay isthat number (the maximum propagation delay) by holding onto (holding offtransmission) their messages (packets or data for wireless transmission)for long than needed.

It is to be realized that there may be other mechanisms utilized to tryto ensure collision avoidance that don't use the maximum propagationdelay. One example includes setting discrete delay timing blocks andforcing all hubs to adhere to one or more of the discrete delay timingblocks.

An embodiment includes determining one or more discrete communicationdelays for each base station based upon a maximum propagation delaybetween each base station and the one or more of the plurality of hubs.For an embodiment the discrete communication delay is the maximumpropagation delay. For an embodiment the discrete communication delay islonger than the maximum propagation delay. For an embodiment thediscrete communication delays are based upon the plurality ofpropagation delays between the hubs and the base station and are alignedaccording to a base station frame structure.

As stated, the one or more discrete communication delays for each basestation 111-114, 120 is determined based upon a maximum propagationdelay between each base station 111-114, 120 and the one or more of theplurality of hubs 171-176. For an embodiment, the one or more discretecommunication delays are equal to or less than the maximum propagationdelay for each base station.

For an embodiment, the controller 130 is further operative to generate achannel sharing map that includes a timing and order of communicationbetween each base station and the one or more of the plurality of hubs.For an embodiment, the channel sharing map includes timings and sequenceor order of wireless communication between each base station 111-114,120 and the one or more of the plurality of hubs 171-176.

For at least some embodiments, multiple unique channel sharing maps arecreated. For an embodiment, a different channel sharing maps are createdfor each base station having a different overlapping coverage area,wherein the overlapping coverage area is determined by the overlappingcoverage areas the base stations.

For an embodiment, the controller 130 communicates the channel sharingmap(s) to the plurality of base stations 111-114, 120. Further, for anembodiment, the controller additionally or alternatively communicatesthe channel sharing map(s) with the plurality of hubs 171-176.

For an embodiment, each of the plurality of base stations 111-114, 120operate to (or are configured to) time wireless communication with theplurality of hubs 111-114, 120 based on the channel sharing map, the oneor more discrete communication delays of the base station, and acommunication delay of a preceding base station according to the channelsharing map. For an embodiment, the timing of the wireless communicationfrom each of the base station provides continuity of forward carrier ordownlink communication (base station to hub) reception by the hubs. Thedelay of communication from different base stations to different hubsvaries. Accordingly, each base station controls the timing of downlinkcommunication to hubs to optimize (or improve) utilization of thecommunication channel used for the downlink communication. For anembodiment, the preceding base station is the base station wirelesslycommunicating with the one of the plurality of hubs immediately beforethe base station wirelessly communicates with the one of the pluralityof hubs. For an embodiment, the preceding base station is identifiedbased on the order or sequence of the base stations included within thechannel sharing map.

As shown, for an embodiment, at least one of the plurality of basestations (base station 120) communicates with at least one of theplurality of hubs 171-176 through a satellite network (through satellite110), and/or at least one of the plurality of base stations 111-114communicates with at least one of the plurality of hubs 171-176 througha terrestrial network. For an embodiment, the plurality of base stationsis a part of satellite networks. For an embodiment, the plurality ofbase stations are a part of satellite and terrestrial networks. For anembodiment, at least one of the base stations are part of a GEO(geosynchronous) satellite network, and at least one other of the basestations are part of a LEO (low earth orbit) satellite network. Thedifference in lengths of the wireless links of the different satellitenetwork is very large, and as a result, the roundtrip delays(propagation delays) between the hubs and the base stations of thedifferent network varies by large amounts of time. Accordingly, channelutilization is improved by using the described embodiments for timingtransmission of wireless communication between the base stations and thehubs.

As described, the satellite network includes a directional wireless beamfrom the satellite 110 that has a physical coverage area 140. Further,each of the terrestrial base stations 111-114 have correspondingcoverage areas 151, 153, 155, 157 the overall with the coverage area 140of the satellite network. Further, coverage areas of the terrestrialnetwork can overlap each other (such as, coverage areas 151, 153).Further, coverage areas of separate satellite networks can overlap witheach other (not shown in FIG. 1).

The wireless links between the hubs 171-176 and the base station 120 ofthe satellite network are substantially longer than the wireless linksbetween the terrestrial base stations 111-114 and the hubs 171-176, andtherefore, wireless communication signals traveling through the wirelesslinks of the satellite network have a much longer propagation time.Accordingly, in order to efficiently utilize the available wirelesscommunication channel, the timing of transmission between the hubs171-176 and the base stations 111-114, 120 should be controlled. Thedescribed embodiments provide coordinated satellite and terrestrialchannel utilization when the maximum propagation delays of the pluralityof base stations varies across the plurality of base stations withoverlapping coverage areas by greater than a threshold amount. Theroundtrip delays between hubs and terrestrial base stations, and betweenhubs and satellite base stations are greater than the threshold amount.

For an embodiment, the controller further operates to communicates thechannel sharing map to one of more of the plurality of hubs 171-176through at least one of the base stations 111-114, 120. For anembodiment, the controller operates to control at least one of theplurality of base stations 111-114, 120 to broadcast the channel sharingmap to one of more of the plurality of hubs 171-176 through at the leastone of the base stations 111-114, 120. Once the broadcast has beenreceived by the hubs 171-176, the hubs are able to properly timereception of wireless signals from the different base stations 111-114,120.

FIG. 2 shows a physical channel 240 between a hub modem 234 of a hub 220and a base station 230, and a virtual channel 260 between an application232 of the hub 220 and a system platform 210, according to anembodiment. For an embodiment, a multicast manager 212 of the systemplatform 210 generates a multicast scheduling control packet based upona distribution of a plurality of network registered hubs. Thedistribution of the network registered hubs can be based on adistribution of channel sharing maps, of firmware operating on the hubs,the distribution of customers of the hubs, a distribution of applicationof use of the hubs, and/or based on the distribution of the geography ofthe hubs. The application 232 controls enabling or disabling of themulticast reception 250 of the hub modem 234.

For an embodiment, the system platform 210 communicates the multicastscheduling control packet to the base station 230. For an embodiment,the base station 230 generates a plurality of multicast channelconfigurations based upon the multicast scheduling control packet.

Further, for an embodiment, system platform 210 also communicates themulticast scheduling control packet to the wireless communication hub234, wherein the wireless communication hub 234 is one of the pluralityof network registered hubs. For an embodiment, the system platform 210communicates the multicast scheduling control packet to the wirelesscommunication hub 234 through the base station 230. However, themulticast scheduling control packet does not have to be communicated tothe wireless communication hub 234 through the base station 230. Thatis, for example, the system platform 210 may communicate the multicastscheduling control packet to the wireless communication hub 234 throughanother means. For example, a cellular or other wireless network (notshown in FIG. 2) can be utilized to facilitate this communication.

After having received the multicast scheduling control packet from thesystem platform 210, the wireless communication hub 234 selects specificmulticast channels from the plurality of multicast channelconfigurations, to receive specific multicast data based upon acondition of the hub and the multicast scheduling control packet. Thatis, the multicast scheduling control packet includes multicast channelconfigurations of which the wireless communication hub 234 makes aselection. For an embodiment, the selection is based on a condition ofthe wireless communication hub 234, wherein the condition is based on aconfiguration of the wireless communication hub 234, an environment ofthe wireless communication hub 234, the wireless coverage areaattachment of the wireless communication hub 234, or a position of thehub within the channel sharing map. For at least some embodiments, theconfiguration includes a current firmware version of the hub. For atleast some embodiments, the configuration includes a hub battery status.For at least some embodiments, the configuration includes a subscriptionof the hub of certain multicast services. For at least some embodiments,the configuration includes a customer ID of the hub. For at least someembodiments, the configuration includes a multicast channel priorityspecified in the multicast channel configuration. For at least someembodiments, the environment includes a location of the hub.

After having selected the specific multicast channels, the wirelesscommunication hub 234 then receives the multicast data through theselected specific multicast channel configurations.

For another embodiment, before having received a channel sharing map,the hubs operate in a higher power consumption state as the hubs waitfor the channel sharing map to be broadcast from the base stations. Oncethe hubs have received the channel sharing maps, the hubs cansynchronize with one or more of the base stations, and the hubs have theinformation needed to know when communication with each of the hubs isto occur, and the hubs can then switch to a lower-power consumptionstate as the hubs do not need to be operating when not wirelesslycommunicating with the base stations.

For at least some embodiments, once the plurality of hubs 171-176 hasreceived the channel sharing map, each of the plurality of hubs 171-176operate to coordinate a timing of uplink wireless communication to thebase stations 111-114, 120 based upon the one or more discretecommunication delays, a propagation delay of a one of the base stations111-114, 120, and the shared channel map. The coordination of timing ofthe uplink wireless transmission (from the hubs to the base stations111-114, 120) has the purpose of avoiding interference at the basestations 111-114, 120 in the return or uplink direction.

An embodiment further includes at least one of the plurality of hubs171-176 operating to maintain an estimate of roundtrip time for eachbase station that the hub is within the base station coverage area. Thatis, each hub 171-176 is within the wireless coverage area of one or morebase stations. For this embodiment, each hub 171-176 maintains anestimate of the roundtrip delay between the hub and each of these basestations the hub can maintain wirelessly communication because the hubis within the wireless coverage area of the base station. For anembodiment, the at least one of the plurality of hubs further operatesto time communication with a current active base station based on themaintained estimate of the roundtrip delay with the current active basestation and the channel sharing map. It is to be understood that theterm roundtrip delay and propagation delay may be used interchangeably.

Further, for an embodiment, at least one of the plurality of hubs171-176 maintains an estimate of frequency correction values needed tophase lock onto carriers of multiple base stations 111-114, 120. Thatis, the at least one of the plurality of hubs operates to select afrequency correction value based on the maintained estimates of thefrequency correction values of a current active base station asidentified by the channel sharing map. A frequency correction valueneeded by the hub to lock (frequency or phase lock) to each of the basestations the hubs can wirelessly communicate with, is maintained. Thechannel sharing map provides the hub with the information needed toproject which base station the hub will connect with at different times.The hub then accesses the maintained frequency correction value neededto lock to the base station as indicated by the channel sharing map.

For an embodiment, each of the hubs maintains physical channelproperties for the base stations identified by the channel sharing map.For an embodiment, the physical channel properties include but are notlimited to a channel frequency response, a channel path loss, a dopplershift, multi-path delay and/or received signal strength. Further, for anembodiment, the physical channel properties maintained as a function oftime. For an embodiment, the saved physical channel properties are usedby the hubs to minimize the synchronization time with the base stationidentified based on channel sharing map.

For an embodiment, the base stations of the channel sharing map can eachhave different data transmission capacity and latency. For anembodiment, depending on the service provided by the connecting basestation, a hub can further prioritize data transmission applications tosupport. For example, hub can prefer one base station for multicastapplications and another base station for unicast applications.

For an embodiment, controller further helps in providing a communicationcontext of a hub to the base station when the hub switches from one basestation to another. For an embodiment, based on the channel sharing map,the controller moves the context of the hub from one base station toanother. In this way, hubs can get uninterrupted service while switchingfrom one base station to another. For an embodiment, the controller alsohelps in maintaining context when the hub moves from one base station toanother.

For an embodiment, channels of the channel sharing map occupy a commonfrequency spectrum. Therefore, the channel sharing map provides forimproved utilization of the common frequency spectrum by scheduling thetime coordinated wireless communication through the common frequencyspectrum.

Owing to the timing of wireless communication between the base stationsand the hubs, the base stations and the hubs need to be synchronized.For an embodiment, the plurality of base stations and the plurality ofhubs maintain synchronization through a global satellite network. Thatis, the global satellite network provides a signal that can be lockedonto by the base stations and the hubs.

For an embodiment, generation of the shared channel map is influenced bythe communication delays. For an embodiment, a timing of allocationwithin the shared channel map is based on (to minimize) a difference inthe communication delays between preceding and subsequent base stationsof the shared channel map. That is, the ordering of the base stationsaccording to the channel sharing map is selected such that directlysuccessive base stations of the channel sharing map have communicationdelays that are as similar as conveniently possible. For an embodiment,the generation of the channel sharing map is additionally influenced bya Service Level Agreement (SLA) which minimizes (or reduces) thedowntime between carrier switches (that is, minimizes the downtime ofthe hub(s) when switching from one base station to another basestation).

FIG. 3 shows determination of a communication delay between a basestation 340 and a hub 310, according to an embodiment. An embodimentincludes the base station operating to transmit a packet 311 containinga first timestamp representing a transmit time of the packet. Aftertransmission of the packet 311, the hub 310 receives the packet 311through the satellite link 315 (including satellite 391) containing thefirst timestamp. Further, the hub operates to receive from a local timesource a second timestamp corresponding with a time of reception of thepacket with the first timestamp. The hub then operates to calculating atime difference between the first timestamp and the second timestamp,and a propagation delay 350 of the base station based on the calculatedtime difference. As previously described, for an embodiment, the basestations determine the communication delays. For an embodiment, the hubsreceive the communication delay(s) from the base station(s), and thensubtracts from the communication delay the propagation delay, and thenholds (delays) any messages (wireless communication) by that additionalamount of time between when the hub is scheduled to transmit the messageand when the hub actually transmits the message.

For an embodiment, the hub 310 receives the second timestamp from alocal source 320 of the hub 310 that corresponds with a time of wirelessreception of the first timestamp received from the base station 340. Thelocal source 320 of FIG. 3 is shown as being internal to the hub 310,but the local source 320 does not have to be internal to the hub 310.For an embodiment, a controller 368 of the hub 310 operates to calculatethe time difference between the first timestamp and the secondtimestamp. Further, the controller 368 operates to store the timedifference between the first timestamp and the second timestamp inmemory 330. For an embodiment, the controller 368 additionally stores atime of the calculating of the time difference.

An embodiment further includes the hub operating to store the timedifference between the first timestamp and the second timestamp,calculate a predictive model for predicting the propagation time basedthe time difference between the first timestamp and the secondtimestamp, and estimate the propagation time between the base stationand the hub at a time, comprising querying the predictive model with thetime. For an embodiment, only one predictive model per base station of ashared channel map allocation is queried at a time. For an embodiment,only a live or current predictive model is updated.

For an embodiment, the predictability of propagation delay between thebase station and the hub is a function of the frequency of newinformation being injected into a prediction model. For example, if thesystem dynamics result in a slowly changing system (that is, slowlychanging propagation delay), the model is accurately predictable forlower frequency injections of new pieces of information. Thevalidity/predictability of the propagation delay prediction model isproportionally related to the new information frequency and the rate ofchange of the system dynamics.

For at least some embodiments, the sampled data injected into theprediction model is 2-dimensional, including the calculated timedifference between the first timestamp and the second time stamp, andthe time of the calculation of the time difference. The purpose of thetwo-dimensionality is to accommodate for variance and uncertainty inperiodicity of information injection into the propagation delayprediction model. For example, the prediction model may receive 5consecutive samples, wherein new information is injected every 10seconds, and for the 6^(th) instance there is a 20 second gap.

The internal (predictive) model could take on a number of differentforms depending upon the system dynamics in which it is describing. Somemodels are better suited than others for different real-world systems.Accordingly, at least some embodiments include adaptively selecting abase model based on characteristics of the first time stamp and thesecond time stamp, and/or other information available related to thepropagation delay between the first and hubs.

For an embodiment, the predictive model is as simple as a constant modelor passthrough model. For at least some embodiments, queries of thepredictive model give that last received time difference.

Depending upon the time number and how recently the time differencecalculations are available, the order of the model (that is, how manyderivatives or higher power terms) may dynamically vary. In oneinstance, when a model is first initiated and only one data point isavailable, the model may utilize a zeroth order estimation technique,however as additional data points become available 1^(st), 2^(nd) and3^(rd) order terms may be utilized to increase the fidelity of thepredictive model and to increase the time-period of validity of thepredictive model by capturing higher-order system dynamics. For anembodiment, the frequency of data sampling and model updating can alsoallow more of the underlying system dynamics to be captured and modeled.This is very much related to Nyquist frequency.

In practicality it is often not easy to know (by the hub) what networktime (what time the base station thinks it is). As previously described,wireless communication between the hub and the base station through thewireless link demands synchronization of the hub with the base station.In reality it is not desirable to receive a new timestamp from the basestation every X seconds. An embodiment includes the hub (hub) receivingone or more first time timestamps from the base station once, or veryinfrequently. For an embodiment, the hub then uses well characterizedand non-divergent discrete networking timing increment “ticks” toforward integrate network time. For an embodiment, the discrete “tick”comes in the form of the current operating frame number of the system.The challenge is that the frame number can be ambiguous because framenumbers are cyclical (that is, 1 2 3 4 5 . . . 1 2 3 4 5).

For an embodiment the discrete network counting ticks include cyclicalframe counters, for this embodiment the first time stamp is estimatingby selecting from a group of possible cycle counts a value whichproduces a propagation time that is within a predefined acceptable valuerange. Given an expectation around propagation time, there exists aunique solution for how many frame number cycles have occurred over alarge, but finite, time period.

FIG. 4 show a predictive model of two different control loops 410, 420for estimating the propagation delay, according to an embodiment.

Predictive Model(s)

Due to the large RTT (propagation delay) drift (up to ˜1.2 μs/s) a newRTT must be calculated and sent to the modem of the hub (hub) at afrequency high enough to allow adjustment for drift of the propagationdelay between the base station (base station) and the hub (hub). Thiscan place a large burden on the requirement and availability of a GNSS(Global Navigation Satellite System) receiver of, for example, the hub.However, estimation of the RTT drift can be simplified due to thewell-behaved and characterizable motion of the satellite within thewireless link between the base station (base station) and the hub (hub).

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a nested loop model for RTT calculation(Loop1). For an embodiment, the exterior loop 410 consists of timedifferences (R_(i)) being calculated by taking the difference betweenthe Network Time 442 (at the base station or base station) and LocalTime 444 (at the hub or hub) during an NB-IoT (Narrow Band Internet ofThings) modem sleep cycle. For an embodiment, this time delta R_(i) issent to a local primitive RTT model 446 (that is, the propagation delaypredictive model). For an embodiment, the RTT model 446 provides anequation for the RTT based upon the current GNSS time (0.5 ppm->1 ppmclock drift poses negligible accuracy concerns as an input to the RTTmodel 446) and a series of the i most recent time deltas. The inner loop420 consists of the RTT model (executed on NB-IoT chipset) pushing a newRTT to the modem every <1 second. A key observation of this method isthat new RTT values can be sent to the modem without the modem goinginto sleep modem. There is still a freshness requirement on the RTTmodel which requires new GNSS readings on a periodic basis, but theinclusion of the model reduces the overall sample frequency requirementof the local GNSS and disconnects taking GNSS readings with updating theRTT.

For an embodiment, the modem of the hub (hub) 448 and the GNSS receiverof the hub utilize the same antenna and RF chain within the hub.

For an embodiment, the UE (user equipment) or hub or hub performs aR_(i) (difference between the first time stamp and the second timestamp) measurement using a GNSS timestamp and network time availablefrom SIB16 and frame counter. For an embodiment, the UE requires c-DRX(3GPP Defined sleep modes) and e-DRX sleep mode (to enable cohabitationbetween a GNSS receiver and a modem using the same RF chain to support aGNSS measurement. For an embodiment, the frequency of the R_(i)measurements depends on the sleep cycle. A required sleep duration<10.24 s. (A short sleep cycle is desirable, because sleep cycleduration adds latency to any communications sent across the network.However, the sleep cycle must also be long enough to accurately capturea GNSS reading).

For an embodiment, whenever a TA (timing advance) correction isavailable from the base station, it should be used to correct themeasured delay, in addition it can be used to adjust the frequency ofLoop1 410 or loop 2 420 of FIG. 4.

For an embodiment, the RTT (propagation delay) is calculated using thepredictive model based upon a finite and limited series of previousR_(i) measurements. For an embodiment, the predictive model produces anRTT output given an input of current GNSS time. For an embodiment, thisprocess occurs at a high frequency cycle (1 Hz) and can occur even whenthe modem is not in sleep mode.

FIG. 5 shows various overlapping coverage areas of satellite basestations and terrestrial (cellular) base stations, according to anembodiment. As shown, satellite coverage areas 542, 544 overlap witheach other. Further, satellite coverage area 542 overlaps withterrestrial coverage areas 551, 552, 553. Further, at least oneterrestrial coverage area 352 overlaps with another terrestrial coveragearea 353. Further, satellite coverage area 544 overlaps with terrestrialcoverage areas 551, 554.

For an embodiment, each base station has a defined coverage area, and aunique channel sharing map is generated for each set of base stationshaving uniquely overlapping coverage areas. For an embodiment, a uniquechannel sharing map is generated for each base station based on one ormore other base stations that have an overlapping coverage area with thebase station. For example, in FIG. 5, there are five unique channelsharing maps for the different base station having the five uniquelyoverlapping coverage areas. A first map for the base stations B and Cincludes timing schedule transmission for the base stations 1, B, C forthe overlapping coverage areas of base station 1 and base stations B andC. A second map for the base station A includes timing scheduletransmission for the base stations 1, 2, A for the overlapping coverageareas of base stations 1 and 2, and base station A. A third map for thebase station D includes timing schedule transmission for the basestations 2, A for the overlapping coverage areas of base station 2, andbase station A. A fourth map for the base station 1 includes timingschedule transmission for the base stations 1, 2, A, B, C for theoverlapping coverage areas of base stations 1, 2, and base stations A, Band C. A fifth map for the base station 2 includes timing scheduletransmission for the base stations 1, 2, A, D for the overlappingcoverage areas of base stations 1, 2, and base stations A, and D.

For an embodiment, overlapping coverage areas of the base stationschange over time, and the unique channel sharing map is adaptivelyupdated based on the changes in the overlapping coverage areas. For anembodiment, the overlapping coverage areas change as a function of timedue to motion of the transmitting elements (for example, satellitemotion) and thus the uniquely defined channel sharing maps also changeas a function of time.

For an embodiment, the coverage overlaps of the base stations aredetermined over time. Some examples for determining the coverage overlapinclude telemetry monitoring of the position, velocity, and orbit of thesatellite and propagating that forward in time (for example, 1 week) togenerate that unique network map. Further, for at least someembodiments, feedback from the hubs is utilized to determine thecoverage overlaps. For example, a received signal strength (RSSI) ofsignals received at a hub for different base stations can be monitored.The value of the RSSI and changes in the RSSI can be used to furtherrefine the coverage overlaps.

At least some embodiments include a first base station and a second basestation sharing core network and traffic from a hub when a wirelessconnection of the hub dynamically transfers from the first base stationto the second base station. For at least some embodiments, the corenetwork includes at least some of the session management,security/authorization, device provisioning, data routing. The corenetwork allows for transferring between cell towers (base stations)without having to restart a call or wireless connection because the corenetwork does a session handover. For example, the core managementmanages file transfer and data loss while switching between basestations of two networks. The described embodiments can be utilized toreduce network switchover time to ˜1-5 milliseconds which allowsavoiding a session interruption by also including the core network tomanage the switch over from one network to another network.

It is to be understood that the described embodiments do not ensurecomplete continuity of reception for all hubs, but rather to reduce thegaps in continuity down to the spread in propagation delay for hubsassociated with a single base station. For example, a network thatincludes both satellite and terrestrial base station may have a maximumround trip time spread different between the satellite base station andthe terrestrial base station of 500 milliseconds. However, by using thecontrolled timing and the channel sharing maps, the realized timing gapscan be reduced to 4 milliseconds.

FIG. 6 shows some examples of a timing of base station transmissionbased on a channel sharing map, according to an embodiment. The sharedchannel sharing map of FIG. 6 is generated for base station 1 610 andbase station 2 620 which have overlapping coverage areas, wherein thehubs 631, 632, 633 are located within the coverage areas of the basestation 1 610 and base station 2 620. The base stations BS1 610, BS2 620wirelessly communicate with the hubs 631, 632, 633 through wirelesslinks 680.

The channel sharing map 660 shows a sequence of time allocations of thebase stations BS1 610 and BS2 620. Ideally, at for example hub1 631, thetime of the reception of wireless communication from BS1 and BS2 aretimed to efficiently utilized the transmission channel. That is, ideallywhen reception of wireless signals from BS1 stop, the reception ofwireless signals from BS2 immediately starts, thereby most efficientlyutilizing the transmission channel. Efficient use of the channelincludes minimal dead time in which the hub 1 631 is not wirelesslycommunicating with either of the base stations BS1, BS2.

However, the communication delay from one base station to another basestation will vary. Therefore, if the timing of the transmission of thewireless communication from the base stations BS1, BS2 is not preciselycontrolled, then the hub (Hub1) will have dead times in its wirelesscommunication, and channel efficiency will be wasted.

The shared channel map 680 representation shows the timing of thetransmissions from BS1 and BS2 being controlled to efficiently used thetransmission channel. As shown, the transmission from BS1 and BS2 beginsbefore the allocations indicated by the channel sharing map to accountfor the communication delay between each base station BS1, BS2 and thehub1. As shown, BS1 begins transmission at T0 ff 1 before the timing ofBS1 of the channel sharing map 660. Toff1 accounts for the communicationdelay between BS1 and hub1. Further, BS2 begins transmission at Toff2before the timing of BS2 of the channel sharing map 660. Toff2 accountsfor the communication delay between BS2 and hub1. If properly timed, thewireless communication of BS1 stops being received by hub1 the same timethat the wireless communication from BS 2 starts being received by hub1.

For at least some embodiments, each of the hubs will also have their ownchannel sharing maps which provide a timed schedule of wirelesscommunication with the base stations. Similarly, the hubs need to timethe transmission of wireless communication with the different basestations to minimize the downtime. As previously described, thepropagation delay between a hub and different base stations will vary.Accordingly, the timing of the transmission to the different basestation needs to be adjusted based on the propagation delay between thehub and the corresponding base station.

For an embodiment, the transmission from hub1 631 to BS1 and BS2 beginsbefore the allocations indicated by the channel sharing map to accountfor the communication delay between the hub1 631 and each base stationBS1, BS2. For example, hub1 631 may begin transmission at T0 ff 1 beforethe timing of the scheduled hub1 to BS1 of the channel sharing map ofhub 1. Toff1 accounts for the communication delay between hub1 and BS1.Further, hub 1 begins transmission at Toff2 before the timing of thehub1 to BS2 of the channel sharing map of hub1. Toff2 accounts for thecommunication delay between hub1 and BS2.

FIG. 7 shows multiple base stations wirelessly communicating withmultiple hubs, and further shows the propagation times for each of thewireless links between the base stations and the hubs, and further showsselected communication delays, according to an embodiment. As shown, abase station 1 710 has hubs 731, 732 within its coverage area, a basestation 2 720 has hubs 731, 732, 733, 734 within its coverage area, andbase station 3 730 has hubs 733, 734.

The propagation delays of the wireless links from the base station 1 710to the 731, 732 are 5 s and 10 s. Therefore, the communication delay ofthe base station 1 710 is selected to be 10 s, the maximum propagationdelay of the wireless links of the base station 1 710. The propagationdelays of the wireless links from the base station 2 720 to the 731,732, 733, 734 are 20 s, 22 s, 22 s, 25 s. Therefore, the communicationdelay of the base station 2 720 is selected to be 25 s, the maximumpropagation delay of the wireless links of the base station 2 720. Thepropagation delays of the wireless links from the base station 3 730 tothe 733, 734 are 4 s and 4 s. Therefore, the communication delay of thebase station 3 730 is selected to be 4 s, the maximum propagation delayof the wireless links of the base station 3 730.

As previously described, each base station determines one or morediscrete communication delays (that is, a communication delay for eachbase station) for the base station based upon a maximum propagationdelay between the base station and one or more of the plurality of hubs.As described, for an embodiment, the discrete communication delays thenare used to determine a channel sharing map in which the base stationstime their transmissions based upon the channel sharing map to enablecontinuous reception of the signal at the hub

As previously described, each base station operates to time wirelesscommunication with the plurality of hubs based on the channel sharingmap, the one or more discrete communication delays of the base station,and a communication delay of a preceding base station according to thechannel sharing map. As shown in FIG. 6, each base station operates toadjust a transmission time of wireless data being transmitted to a hubbased on the discrete communication delay of the base station, and acommunication delay of the preceding base station

Further, each of the plurality of hubs operate to coordinate a timing ofuplink wireless communication to the base stations based upon the one ormore discrete communication delays, a propagation delay of a one of thebase stations, and the shared channel map.

Further, at least one of the plurality of hubs operates to maintain anestimate of roundtrip time (propagation delay) for each base stationthat the hub is within the coverage area of the base station, and the atleast one of the plurality of hubs further operates to timecommunication with a current active base station based on the maintainedestimate of the roundtrip delay (propagation delay) with the currentactive base station and the channel sharing map.

FIG. 8 shows overlapping coverage areas of multiple base stations andcorresponding unique channel sharing maps, according to an embodiment.The coverage areas of the base stations include coverage areas A, B, C,D. As previously described, the channel sharing map of each base stationincludes all the base stations that have overlapping coverage. Forexample, in FIG. 8, the coverage areas of A, B, and C overlap.Therefore, a first channel sharing map includes allocations to the basestations of A, B, and C. Further, the coverage areas of A and D overlap.Therefore, a second channel sharing includes allocations to the basestations of A and D.

The channel sharing maps 1 and 2 of FIG. 8 show possible base stationallocations. It should be noted that channel sharing maps that include acommon base station, such as, base station A need to be coordinated.That is, the timing of the common base station A needs to be commonlyaccounted for in both channel sharing maps, and occur at the same timeallocations within the channel sharing maps 1 and 2.

The flow chart of FIG. 8 shows steps of the channel sharing maps. Afirst step 810 includes a controller generating the channel sharing mapsbased on the coverage areas of the base stations. A second step 820includes the controller providing the channel sharing maps to the basestations. A third step 830 includes each base station further allocating(scheduling) wireless communication with hubs within the channel sharingmap allocations. That is, the channel sharing map provides timeallocations in which each base station communicates with the hubs. Thebase stations than allocate or time the communication with the hubswithin the base station allocations of the shared channel maps.Essentially the base stations determine a fine-tuning of the timing (mapwithin the channel sharing map) of wireless communication with the hubsthat the base station is wirelessly communicating with within theallocation for the base station within the shared channel sharing map.

FIG. 9 shows coverage area of multiple base stations that change overtime, according to an embodiment. First, the coverage area of one ormore of the base stations may include motion. The motion of coveragearea 910 of FIG. 9 shows the coverage area of base station A moving overtime. The motion can be a function of time due to satellite motion.

The coverage areas of the base station can additionally or alternativelychange over time as beamforming patterns of the base stations of theterrestrial and/or satellite networks change over time 920.

For at least some embodiments, the channel sharing maps are updated asthe coverage areas of the base stations of the terrestrial and/orsatellite networks change over time due to either motion of thetransmitting elements (terrestrial and/or satellite base stations), ordue to changes is coverage areas due to changes in beamformingparameters of electromagnetic beams formed by the transmitting elements(terrestrial and/or satellite base stations).

As previously described, the motion of the base stations can bedetermined or sensed by telemetry monitoring of the position, velocity,and orbit of the satellite and propagating that forward in time (forexample, 1 week) to generate that unique network map. The beamformingparameters are set by each of the base stations, corresponding changesin the beamforming patterns of the base stations can accordingly bedetermined. Further, for at least some embodiments, feedback from thehubs is utilized to improve the coverage overlaps. For example, areceived signal strength (RSSI) of signals received at a hub fordifferent base stations can be monitored. The value of the RSSI andchanges in the RSSI can be used to further refine the coverage overlaps.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart that includes steps of coordinated satellite andterrestrial channel utilization, according to an embodiment. A firststep 1010 includes determining, by a controller one or more discretecommunication delays for each base station based upon a maximumpropagation delay for each base station and the one or more of theplurality of hubs. A second step 1020 includes generating, by thecontroller, a channel sharing map that includes a timing ofcommunication between each base station and the one or more of theplurality of hubs. A third step 1030 includes communicating, by thecontroller, the channel sharing map to the plurality of base stations. Afourth step 1040 includes timing, by each of the plurality of basestations, wireless communication with the plurality of hubs based on thechannel sharing map, the communication delay of the base station, and acommunication delay of a preceding base station according to the channelsharing map.

As previously described, for an embodiment, the controller communicatesthe channel sharing map to one of more of the plurality of hubs throughat least one of the base stations. As previously described, for anembodiment, the controller operates to control at least one of theplurality of base stations to broadcast the channel sharing map to oneof more of the plurality of hubs. As previously described, for anembodiment, each of the plurality of hubs operate to coordinate a timingof uplink wireless communication to the base stations based upon the oneor more discrete communication delays, a propagation delay of a one ofthe base stations, and the shared channel map.

As previously described, for an embodiment, at least one of theplurality of hubs operates to maintain an estimate of roundtrip time foreach base station that the hub is within the coverage area of the basestation, and the at least one of the plurality of hubs further operatesto time communication with a current active base station based on themaintained estimate of the roundtrip delay with the current active basestation and the channel sharing map.

As previously described, for an embodiment, at least one of theplurality of hubs maintains an estimate of frequency correction valuesneeded to phase lock onto carriers of multiple base stations, andwherein the at least one of the plurality of hubs operates to select afrequency correction value based on the maintained estimates of thefrequency correction values of a current active base station asidentified by the channel sharing map.

As previously described, for an embodiment, the communication delays aredetermined by a base station based on a propagation delay determined byeach of the plurality of hubs. As previously described, for anembodiment, the roundtrip delay of each hub is determined by each huboperating to receive a packet containing a first timestamp, wherein thepacket was transmitted by the base station, and wherein the firsttimestamp represents a transmit time of the packet, receive from a localtime source, a second timestamp corresponding with a time of receptionof the packet with the first timestamp, calculate a time differencebetween the first timestamp and the second timestamp, and determine theroundtrip delay of the base station based on the calculated timedifference. As previously described, for an embodiment, each huboperates to store the time difference between the first timestamp andthe second timestamp, calculate a predictive model for predicting thepropagation time based the time difference between the first timestampand the second timestamp, and estimate the roundtrip delay between thebase station and the hub at a time, comprising querying the predictivemodel with the time.

As previously described, for an embodiment, each base station has adefined coverage area, and wherein a unique channel sharing map isgenerated for each set of base stations having uniquely overlappingcoverage areas. As previously described, for an embodiment, overlappingcoverage areas of the base stations change over time, and the uniquechannel sharing map is adaptively updated based on the changes in theoverlapping coverage areas.

Although specific embodiments have been described and illustrated, theembodiments are not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangementsof parts so described and illustrated. The described embodiments are toonly be limited by the claims.

What is claimed:
 1. A controller of a wireless communication systemoperative to: determine one or more discrete communication delays foreach base station of a plurality of base stations based upon a maximumpropagation delay between each base station and one or more of aplurality of hubs; generate a channel sharing map that includes a timingof communication between each base station and the one or more of theplurality of hubs; communicate the channel sharing map to the pluralityof base stations; wherein each of the plurality of base stationsoperates to: time wireless communication with the plurality of hubsbased on the channel sharing map, and the one or more discretecommunication delays of the base station.
 2. The controller of claim 1,wherein at least one of the plurality of base stations communicates withat least one of the plurality of hubs through one or more satellitenetworks, or at least one of the plurality of base stations communicateswith at least one of the plurality of hubs through one or moreterrestrial networks.
 3. The controller of claim 1, wherein the maximumpropagation delays of the plurality of base stations varies across theplurality of base stations with overlapping coverage areas by greaterthan a threshold amount.
 4. The controller of claim 1, wherein thecontroller communicates the channel sharing map to one of more of theplurality of hubs through at least one of the base stations.
 5. Thecontroller of claim 4, wherein the controller operates to control atleast one of the plurality of base stations to broadcast the channelsharing map to one of more of the plurality of hubs.
 6. The controllerof claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of hubs operate to coordinatea timing of uplink wireless communication to the base stations basedupon the one or more discrete communication delays, a propagation delayof a one of the base stations, and the shared channel map.
 7. Thecontroller of claim 4, wherein: at least one of the plurality of hubsoperating to maintain an estimate of roundtrip time for each basestation that the hub is within the coverage area of the base station;the at least one of the plurality of hubs further operating to timecommunication with a current active base station based on the maintainedestimate of the roundtrip delay with the current active base station andthe channel sharing map.
 8. The controller of claim 4, wherein: at leastone of the plurality of hubs maintaining an estimate of frequencycorrection values needed to phase lock onto carriers of multiple basestations, and wherein the at least one of the plurality of hubs operatesto select a frequency correction value based on the maintained estimatesof the frequency correction values of a current active base station asidentified by the channel sharing map.
 9. The controller of claim 4,wherein: at least one of the plurality of hubs operating to maintainphysical channel parameters needed to connect to carriers of multiplebase stations, and wherein the at least one of the plurality of hubsoperates to select a frequency correction value based on the maintainedestimates of the physical channel parameters of a current active basestation as identified by the channel sharing map.
 10. The controller ofclaim 1, wherein channels of the channel sharing map occupy a commonfrequency spectrum.
 11. The controller of claim 1, wherein the pluralityof base stations and the plurality of hubs maintain synchronizationthrough a global satellite network.
 12. The controller of claim 1,wherein the one or more discrete communication delays are determined bya base station based on a propagation delay determined by each of theplurality of hubs.
 13. The controller of claim 12, wherein thepropagation delay of each hub is determined by each hub operating to:receive a packet containing a first timestamp, wherein the packet wastransmitted by the base station, and wherein the first timestamprepresents a transmit time of the packet; receive from a local timesource, a second timestamp corresponding with a time of reception of thepacket with the first timestamp; calculate a time difference between thefirst timestamp and the second timestamp; and determine the propagationdelay of the base station based on the calculated time difference. 14.The controller of claim 13, wherein each hub operates to: store the timedifference between the first timestamp and the second timestamp;calculate a predictive model for predicting the propagation time basedthe time difference between the first timestamp and the secondtimestamp; and estimate the propagation delay between the base stationand the hub at a time, comprising querying the predictive model with thetime.
 15. The controller of claim 1, wherein generation of the sharedchannel map is influenced by the one or more discrete communicationdelays.
 16. The controller of claim 13, wherein a timing a duration ofallocation within the shared channel map are based on a difference incommunication delays between preceding and subsequent base stations ofthe shared channel map.
 17. The controller of claim 1, wherein each basestation has a defined coverage area, and wherein a unique channelsharing map is generated for each set of base stations having uniquelyoverlapping coverage areas.
 18. The controller of claim 15, whereinoverlapping coverage areas of the base stations change over time, andthe unique channel sharing map is adaptively updated based on thechanges in the overlapping coverage areas.
 19. The controller of claim1, wherein a first base station and a second base station share corenetwork and traffic from a hub when a wireless connection of the hubdynamically transfers from the first base station to the second basestation.
 20. A method, comprising: determining, by a controller, one ormore discrete communication delays for each base station of a pluralityof base stations based upon a maximum propagation delay between eachbase station and the one or more of a plurality of hubs; generating, bythe controller, a channel sharing map that includes a timing ofcommunication between each base station and the one or more of theplurality of hubs; communicating, by the controller, the channel sharingmap to the plurality of base stations; and timing, by each of theplurality of base stations, wireless communication with the plurality ofhubs based on the channel sharing map, and the one or more discretecommunication delays of the base station.